News

Lien Update March 15, 2012
Doravilleonlinenews has finally been allowed to obtain a copy the complete list of trash Liens issued by the City of Doraville. The stack of Liens will be published on line and people notified of the latest city bungling of the trash system under the direction of the former mall guard and close friend of the current trash provider, Donna Pittman. The liens, it appears, were issued before the proper notification and accounting chores were handled by the Mayor and clerk. The City Clerk left soon after the scandal was exposed by Doravilleonline news. More to come…
Lien Update march 3, 2012
DORAVILLE IS STILL DRAGGING ITS FEET IN RELEASING LIENS
Two months of asking, more parsing of the open records update by the city attorney’s of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe- no copies of the liens and no list. The City hall run by the ex mall guard, Donna Pittman, can’t seem to come up with a simple open records request. Copies of the liens on what may be 25% of the houses of Doraville. Yes 25% of the houses of Doraville on the court house steps over a $50 trash bill? What has Maria, Donna, Mel and staff done to the city now?
1-9-12
20% OF DORAVILLE HOMES HAVE BEEN ISSUED LIENS ALONG WITH INSTRUCTION TO THE SHERIFF OF DEKALB COUNTY TO AUCTION OFF TO SATISFY DORAVILLE TRASH BILL!
The City of Doraville, in a unprecedented move, issued Liens on over 400 homes in Doraville November 16, 2011 for 2011 trash bills. The trash bill is considered by Doraville to be a tax not a fee. trash bills are considered by Doraville city hall to be the same as ad valorem taxes ( real estate, car, boat- property taxes) and as such receive the same treatment and consideration.
More to come on this expanding story.

Illegal Nightclubs return to Buford highway under Mayor Pittman’s new ‘customer service’ policy. With the new- if you got the bucks we got a permit policy. We have the following mess to go with the massage parlors, metal buildings, wholesale businesses and the growing slum that marks Buford highway. No open government. Sleazy back room deals.
THIS SHOULD BE POSTED ON EVERY WEBSITE IN THE CITY

The following are some FACTS regarding the above referenced illegal nightclubs:

AMIGO’S NIGHTCLUB:
This club operated illegally in plain sight for quite awhile. Around February of 2010 the location was purchased by Volcano International Inc. with Ms Jeong Kim acting as registered agent. In March 2010 a letter was hand delivered to Ms Kim, receipt confirmed, telling her that her that her occupational tax app was approved, for a sit down restaurant only, no drive through, drive in, or dancing. In bold print it was stated: “At any time the facility may breech the restriction against dancing, thereby qualifying it as an illegal nightclub, the city will take appropriate action and as per O.C.G.A. 16-10-20. Further, the site’s former use as Amigo’s Nightclub provides no legal vesting to re-open a nightclub use given that a nightclub was not a permitted use within C-2 at the time that facility was operating.”

On 4/30/2010 another letter was sent via certified mail, receipt confirmed, about the alcohol consumption license and it was stated that this location cannot be used as a Karaoke and bar. The facility must qualify as a restaurant and not a nightclub. It is now October, 2011, one and a half years later and is continuing to operate under the name “Amigo’s Nightclub”. Music pumps from this location Thursday to Sunday every week. I counted 17 taxis lined up around the building 2 weeks ago.

Our zoning can be found on the city website. Nightclubs are allowed in C-1 and C-2 but only if the applicant applies for a Conditional Use Permit. Then the city must advertise the request via a sign that is visible to the public, a public hearing is held, and the council votes on the CUP. Our zoning prohibits any nightclub from opening within 1500 feet (the length of 5 football fields) of residential areas. In order to get around that law a variance must be applied for, advertised, public hearing held and voted on by the council.

GEORGIA PALACE:
Letters were sent on 3/15/10, 5/20/10, & 8/5/10 to the applicants stating “no dance floor, no nightclub”. In the 8/5/10 letter it states: AT NO TIME WILL DANCING BE PERMITTED ANYWHERE WITHIN THE ENTIRE 44,884 SQ FT FACILITY NOR WILL A DANCE FLOOR BE PERMITTED GIVEN THESE WILL AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY THIS ESTABLISHMENT AS AN ILLEGAL NIGHTCLUB PURSUANT TO THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE.”

Two residents have seen the dance floor, Mr Cooley has admitted there is a dance floor and Mayor Pittman has stated that even though it IS a dance floor the applicants are claiming it will be used for extra seating. It is my understanding that it is a specially constructed dance floor which begs the question why the applicants would spend additional money for a dance floor and then only use it for extra seating.

I am told that the city will “watch this closely” to make sure after it opens that it is not operating as a nightclub. (See facts about Amigo’s Nightclub above which has now been operating illegally in plain sight for a year and a half since it was pointed out that it is operating illegally)

In March of 2011 Maria Alexander filed an ORR regarding the Georgia Palace and filed a subsequent report to Mayor Pittman and copied it to then attorney Weed. I asked for a copy of the report and was told to file an ORR because it might be “attorney/client” privilege. I filed my ORR which resulted in Ms Alexander being contacted by the city for a copy her report (which she had filed with them back in March, 2011) and told her it was so they could complete my ORR request. Instead, they took the report, deemed it “attorney/client” privilege and are now withholding the information contained in the report from the public.

I was able to obtain blueprints for the remodel of this 44,000 sq ft facility. According to the fire marshal this “restaurant” can accomodate up to 2,685 patrons. It has a stage, 2 bars, a billiard room which pictures 6 tables (our city ordinance only allows 3 tables per establishment), dressing rooms, a sound room and the 2 residents that gained entry noted very expensive “club” lighting and stage lighting. The Farmer’s Market, according to an employee, is open until 10:00PM, 7 days a week. 2,685 people and cars, where will they park?

And last, our experience with clubs in the past: 3 murders including a police officer in the same parking lot as Georgia Palace, clubs shut down for drugs, nude dancing, underage drinking and a 14 year old girl being shot in the hip at 3:00AM in the parking lot of one club.

These are the facts. Most of the information I have can be sent to you via email if you want to see the proof. Other things, such as the plans and things I received hard copies of will have to be viewed in person. I would urge all of you to make your own calls to Mr Cooley and Mayor Pittman, look up the zoning laws for yourselves, send emails and attend the meeting on Monday to address the issue when public comments are allowed on any issue at the end of the meeting. Your support would be greatly appreciated.